Wire-straightening machine.



G. A. STONE. WIRE STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

APPLIQATIOH FILED JAN.16,'190B.

Patented June 1,1909.

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9. A. STONE. WIRE STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16,19D8.

Patented J une.1,1909.

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Patented June 1, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN;16,190a. 923,599 I I Patented June 1, 1909.

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CHARLES A. STONE, or CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WIBE- STRAIGHTENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Application filed January 16, 1908. Serial No. 411,058.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. STONE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga' and State of Ohio, have invented a certainnew, and useful Improvement in Wire-Straight ening Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for straightening wire, and, while a lar e field for its use will be found in straig tening wires which are employed in casting or founding for the purpose of supporting cores in molds, it is not limited in its application to such field.

The objects of the invention are to provide a machine of this type which is capable of operatin upon long or short lengths of wire to effectively straighten the same; which shall be provided with means for cutting said wires to any desired length; which shall be applicable to work on wires of varying gage; which shall be provided with eflicient means for feeding wire to the drawplate; and which shall be comparatively simple but of marked efficiency in operation.

The machine comprises generally a device through which wire is drawn for the purpose of straightening the same, means for drawing the wire through said device, means for cutting the wires at any desired length after they have been so straightened, and means for feeding wire to the straightening device, together with necessary connections for operating said devices in proper and predetermined order, and with such adjustments for the various parts thereof as are best suited to render the machine of general application.

Generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consisting of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in the drawings forming part hereof, wherein Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 represents a top plan View of said machine; Fig. 3 represents a central longitudinal section taken through the machine, certain parts being shown in elevation; Fig. 4 represents a front elevation of said machine; Fig. 5 an enlarged detail of the cam by which the wire-feeding gripper is operated, and Figs. 6 and 7 represent sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents the base of the machine, which base may be a hollow casting provided with ears 2 whereby it may be screwed or otherwise secured to a support. Above the base 1 and parallel therewith, there is mounted a plate 3,}said plate being supported from the base by means of pillars 4:. Above plate 8 there is mounted a frame 5, said frame consisting generally of an inverted U-shaped casting having a top plate 5* and a pair of side plates 6 secured to plate 3, as by means of short bolts 7 projecting through ears 8 formed on the bottom of the side plates and securing said ears to plate 3. Above frame 5 and parallel with plate ff, there is a plate 9 supported by a pair of brackets 10 and 11. Parts 5"-, 6, 9, 10 and 11 may be all formed from an integral casting. At the rear of plate 9 there is provided a plate 12, which extends across the said plate 9, plate 9 being provided with a longitudinal slide-way 13 in the upper surface thereof and extending the full length thereof, for a purpose to be described. (See Fig. 2.)

At the front of the base 1 there is supported a draw-plate 14 having a plurality of apertures 15 of varying size therein to accommodate various gages of wires. Plate 14: extends across the front of the base and is secured thereto by means of a lateral flange 16 resting in a corresponding lateral recess in the base. For the purpose of supporting the plate 14k rigidly on said base, flange 16 is provided with a central downwardly projecting rib 17, fitting snugly between the side edges of a slot 18 in said base.

19 denotes a plurality of screws which extend through a plate 20 fitted into a recess formed in the lower surface of the base opposite the recess in which the flange 16 is fitted, said screws extending through slot 18 and being threaded into said flange 16. Slot 18, as will appear more particularly from Fig. 7, is of considerably greater length than is the rib 17, whereby, on slacking up the screws 19, said draw-plate may be adjusted transversely of the base.

21 denotes an operating lever for adjusting said draw-plate, said lever being connected at one end to a post 22 which is pivotally connected to the base and being connected to the outer end of flange 16 by means of a bolt 23 extending through said lever and into a post 24; which is carried by said flange. The lower end of post 2& may be secured to the end of flange 16 by means of a similar bolt 25 threaded thereinto from beneath the flange.

For the purpose of clamping the drawplate in any desired position, I employ a lock-bolt 26, which extends through the base 1 and through a slot 27 in flange l6,-a nut being employed for tightening said bolt to lock the plate in desired position, (see Fig. 7

At the rear end of the base, there is mounted a pair of brackets 28, each having at the upper end thereof a journal for the reception of a crank shaft 29. Tins: shaft is provided with two oppositely pro ecting cranks 30, 31. 32 denotes a connecting rod journaled on pin of crank shaft 30 and con nected with a reciprocable member Member 33 has connected thereto, and preferably integral therewith, one of the jaws 36L of a gripper. The other jaw 35 is pivotally connected to jaw 3a by means of a bolt 36. The upper end of bolt 36 projects into a longitudinal slot 37 formed in plate 3, the head of the bolt being above and extending across said slot. A similar bolt 38 extends through member 33 and projects into the same slot 37 with its head above and extending across said slot, the purpose of said bolts and slot being to guide the gripper in its movements toward and from the draw-plate. Bolts 36 and 38 are in substantially the same vertical plane, said plane being perpendicular to the draw-plate.

J aw 35 is provided with an operating lever 39, which projects outwardly and is provided with a roller $0 at the outer edge thereof, a spring n being interposed between lever 39 and member 33 and tending to hold the jaws 34 and 35 separated for the reception of a wire inserted through the draw-plate.

For the purpose of moving jaw toward jaw 34, I employ a cam 42, which is detachably secured to a vertically extending plate 1-3 having an operating extension or flange 44. Extension M- is reciprocably mounted in a slide-way t5, said slide-way projecting laterally from the base 1 and being provided with a longitudinal slot 46 for the reception of a bolt 47, the head whereof is on top of n and the body whereof extends through the slot 46 and supports therebeneath a stud or post 48. Slide way L5 is provided at its outer end with a downwardly projecting plate 49, which may be detachably secured to said slide-way and through which extends an adjusting screw 50, said screw being rotatably mounted in said plate and being threaded into stud 48. The screw is provided with an operating handle 51, by means of which the cam-carrying plate 43 may be moved inwardly and outwardly to adjust the cams l2 relatively to the roller ll) and thereby accommodate the gripper for wires of different gages.

(lain l2? is provided at opposite ends thereof with rounded surfaces l2 l2", respectively, said surfaces being connected by a plane surface 42". \Yhcn the gripper is moved rearwardly, roller ll) will engage surface if and will move jaw 35 toward the jaw Ell, therelrv gripping the wire and re taining such grip until the roller passes be yond the inner surface of the cam onto the rear rounded surface l2". whereupon spring ll will move jaw 33 away from jaw ill and automatically disengage the gripper from the wire. By substituting for cam 42 another cam of greater or less length. the points at which the gripper opens and closes may be varied correspondiugly. I

The crank 31 has journalcd thereto a connecting rod 52, the front end wlua'eof is coir nccted to one of a pair of rcciprocable men1- bers 53 and 5111 said members being connected by means of an upright or bracket Til. whereby they may be operated simultaneously. hlember 53 projects into the space between platcs 3. =7, and (i and is provided with a cross head 53 engaging plates is. whereby it is centered and guided thcreby.---(ilee Figs. 3 and 6). it its front end. it is provided with a roller an. the purpose of the roller being to operate the wire cutter which ill now be described.

The wire-cutter comprises a vertically movable cutting plate 55 provided at the lower end thereot with a cutting edge 56. This plate is reciprocably mounted upon drawplatc ll. having at each end thereof a flange 5? which extends around the corresponding end of the draw-plate. whereby the, cutter is retained on said draw-plate. A pair of spiral springs 5h, one near each end of the cutter. normally retain the cutter in elevated position, with the cutting edge thereof a slight distance above and out of line with the apertures l?) in the draw-plate. 'lhesc springs may be mounted on studs all carried by the base. with their upper ends engaging each a rearwardly projecting flange l) at the upper end of the cutter plate .75. it its central portion, the cutter is provided with a rearwardly and downwardly projecting cam or incline 31 intermediate between flanges (30 and corresponding in length to roller 53. The upper surfaces of flanges no and the inclined operating member or cam (51 maybe engaged by the bottom of plate 5. it will be apparent that, by moving mem ber 53 forwardly, roller 53 will engage incline (31, thereby forcing the cutter plate downwardly against the resistance of springs 58 and causing it to shear off any wire or wires that may be projecting through the draw-plate. ll'hen roller 53" is withdrawn from the incline, the springs 58 will llll) lift;

force the cutter plate upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, with the cutting edge above the apertures 15.

The plate 9, which is supported on top of brackets 10 and 11, is provided with the slide-way 13 mentioned hereinbefore, and member 53 is reciprocably mounted in said slide-way, said member being shown as a flat plate. The plate 53 is retained in said slide-way by means of plate 12 at the rear end of plate 9 and a bolt 62, said bolt being threaded into the front end of plate 9 with the body thereof projecting through a longitudinal slot 63 in plate 53 with its head overlapping said slot and engaging the plate 53 on opposite sides of the slot. The front end of 53 projects in front of or beyond the draw-plate 14 and has suspended therefrom a gripper, said gripper being similar in construction to the wire-pulling gripper previously described. The gripper is suspended from 53 by means of bolts 64, (see Fig. 4t), which extend through 53 and are threaded into the upper end of the gripper arm 65, said arm carrying the jaw 66. The opposite jaw of the gripper 67 is pivoted to the former aw and is provided with an operating lever 68 having at the upper end thereof a roller 68 A spiral. spring 69 operatively interposed between 65 and 68 tends to hold the jaw 67 away from jaw 66. For the pur pose of operating this last-described gripper, I have provided the following construction 70 denotes an arm which is pivoted on top of the frame-work and preferably to an extension of plate 9. (See Fig. 2). The rear end of said arm extends nearly to the rear end of plate 9 and in operative relation to a cam stop 71. This stop is rotatably mounted on plate 9 and is generally circular in outline, but is provided with a substantially straight face 72 forming a chord of the circular perimeter thereof, said face being formed on that part of 71 which is adjacent to the arm 7 0, stop 71 being also provided with an op erating arm 73 which projects over the plate 53*. For the purpose of operating said stop in reverse directions, I provide plate 53 with a pair of spaced arm-engaging members, one of said members being a pin or screw 7%, and the other a lug or arm 75. The said lug or arm 75 is mounted at the rear end of 53 and projects forwardly therefrom, being spaced from 53 a distance to receive the plate 12 therebetween and being of sufficient extent to engage arm 73 before plate 53 reaches its forward limit of move ment. Pin 74 is so mounted as to engage the opposite side of said arm '73 before the plate 53 reaches its rearward limit of movement.

At its front end, the arm 70 is provided with a cam 76 for the purpose of operating the feeding gripper. This cam may be adjustably mounted on arm 70 in the manner shown in Fig. 5. That is to say, arm 70 will be provided with an inverted shallow T- shaped slide-way 77, extending transversely thereof. On its under side it is provided with a transverse slot 7 3 merging with slideway 77. Cam 76 is provided with a flange 79 fitting in the slide-way 77 and is provided with a downwardly projecting lug 80 eX- tending into slot 78. By means of an adjusting screw 81 mounted in one of the walls of the slot and threaded into said lug, the cam may be moved toward or from roller 68*, carried by the lever 68 and thereby adjust the feeding gripper for wires of varying gage.

My machine may be operated either by hand or by power, and, for this purpose, the shaft 29 is provided at one end with an operating handle 82 and at the other end with fast and loose pulleys 83 and S4.

lfn operation, a wire to be straightened is inserted into the appropriate orifice in drawplate 1 Crank shaft 29 is rotated, whereupon the following operations occur, assuming the parts to be in the position indicated, with the draw-plate adjusted to bring an orifice 15 of appropriate size in line with the wire pulling gripper :The wire pulling gripper, carried'by a member 33, moves rearwardly with the wire extending between the jaws thereof. When the roller 40 engages cam 42, the jaws are closed against the wire and the wire is pulled through the plate a distance which is predetermined by the plane inner surface 12 of cam 42. As soon as the roller passes over such plane surface, the spring 41 separates the aws and releases the gripper from pulling engagement with the wire. At the same time, links 53 and 53 are being moved forwardly by crank 31 and rod 52. l Vhen roller 53 engages incline 61, it forces downwardly the cutting plate 55 and shears off, flush with the inner edge of drawplate 14, the wire which has been pulled through said plate by the pulling gripper. Meanwhile, member 53 which carries the feeding gripper arm 65 is being carried forwardly. On the forward movement of 53 the roller 6S engages cam 76, but, owing to the fact that the arm 70 is pivoted freely and the plane face of stop 72 is presented toward the same, the action of the roller is" to move aside the front end of arm 70, without closing the gripper jaw 67. As member 53 moves forwardly still further, projection 75 engages arm 73 of cam 71 and rocks said cam so as to bring the rounded surface thereof between its pivot and arm 70. Further rotation of the shaft feeds the wire-pulling gripper inwardly toward the draw-plate 14, the front end of said gripper being nearly in contact with said plate at the end of the forward stroke of connecting rod 32. Meanwhile members 53 and 53" have been moved rearwardly. As member 53 moves in this direction, roller 6S engages cam 76, the mov able jaw of the feeding gripper is closed against the wire, and the wire is fed through the draw-plate for a distance determined by the length of the adjacent plane surface of cam 76. Further movement of plate 53 causes the roller 68 to pass off cam 76, releasing the feeding gripper from its wire and,v after such release, pin 74 engages arm 73 of cam 71 and rocks the said cam, bringing the plane surface 72 thereof toward arm 70. For each rotation of the crank shaft, the wire is engaged by the wire pulling gripper and is fed through the plate the predetermined distance; it is then severed by the cutter, and another wire, or, in the case of a coil, another length of wire is fed through the draw-plate a sulficient distance to enable the pulling-gripper to engage the same.

By means of the adjustments, the length of wire fed through the plate by the feeding gripper, the length of wire straightened by the pulling gripper, the size of the orifice through which the wire is to be fed and the closing movements of the grippers may be varied to suit the special cir cinnstances of the case. The feeding and pulling grippers are operated in reverse directions and alternately engage a wire to feed the same through the draw-plate and to pull the same through said plate. The pulling gripper and the cutter-open ating member are operated in reverse di rections and, as the former releases the wire before the end of the rear stroke of its connecting rod and the latter engages the cutter-operating surface ('31 at nearly the end of the forward stroke of its connectcutter can be operated. The length of the plane surface of cam 76 will be such as to cause the end of the wire fed through draw-plate 1st to extend well between the jaws of the wire-pulling grippers when the latter is at the forward end of. its stroke, preferably to the rear ends of the gripping portions of said jaws. As the momentum imparted to the wire, when the parts are moving rapidly, may sometimes cause it to be projected a greater distance through the drawplate, I provide a stop at the rear end of the gripping portions of the jaws. Said stop may be carried by one of said jaws and will extend across the rear end of the wire-gripping space therebetween. Should the wire be fed through the draw-plate a greater distance than desired, it will be abutted by the stop 85 and be pushed forwardly through the plate until its projection theretl'irough is the usual or normal amount. By this construction, the lengths of wire straightened and cut will always be constant for the same length of cam 1-2.

The operations of pulling, cutting and lng rod, the wire will be released before the feeding are entirely automatic, and the machine, while comparatively simple of construction, is efiicient and economical in operation.

The term draw plate is employed herein to designate an element having an aperture or apertures which are adapted to engage frictionally any irregularities in the wire and straighten the wire by pulling the same through such an aperture. The apertures in the draw plate are of a diameter at least equal to that of the wire which is pulled therethrough, whereby the wire is not reduced in size by being pulled through any of the apertures of the draw plate, but is merely straightened.

Having thus described my invention, l claim 1. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-platehaving an a perture adapted to frictionally engage irregularities in the exterior surface of a wire, a wire-gripping device adapted to engage the wire and draw the same through the plate, and means for automatically disengaging the gripper from the wire after the latter has been pulled through the plate a predetermined distance, substantially as specified.

In a wire straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture adapted to frictionally engage irregularities in the exterior surface of a wire, a device for pulling wires through said plate to straighten the same, and means adapted to engage said device with and subsequently automatically disengage the same from the wire when the wire has been drawn a predetermined distancc through the plate, substantiall as specified.

3. In a wire-staightening machine, the combination of a draw-platc having an aperture adapted to frictionally engage irregularities in the exterior surface of a wire, a device for pulling wires through said plate, means for releasing said device from the wire when the. wire has been drawn a predetermined distance through the plate, and means for cutting the wire after the same has been straightened by being drawn through. the plate, substantially as specitied.

a In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-platehaving an aperture adapted to frictionally engage irregularities in the exterior surface of a wire, a wire-gripping device on one side of said plate and adapted to engage said wire. a cutting device for severing the wire after it has been drawn through said plate, a shaft, and connections between said shaft and said devices, substantially as specified.

5. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture adapted to frictionally engage lIiO irregularities in the exterior surface of a wire, a gripping device adapted to engage the wire and draw the same through the plate, means for automatically releasing said device from the wire, a device for cutting the wire, a shaft, and connections for operat ing said device from said shaft, substantially as specified.

6. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture adapted to frictionally engage irregularities in the exterior surface of a wire, a wire-pulling device adapted to engage the wire and draw the same through the plate, means for automatically suspending the wire-pulling operation of said device, a device for cutting the wire, and means for operating such cutting device after such suspension of action of the wirepulling device, substantially as specified.

'7. In a wire-straightening device, the combination of a draw-plate, a reciprocating wire-gripping device adapted to engage a wire and draw the same through the plate, a reciprocating cutter mounted adjacent to said plate, a shaft, and connections whereby the rotation of said shaft will reciprocate said devices, substantially as specified.

8. In a wirestraightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate, a wire-pulling device adapted to engage a wire and draw the same through said plate, means for automatically suspending the wire-pulling operation of said device when the wire has been pulled through the plate a predetermined distance, a cutting device for severing the wire after it has been so drawn through the plate, a device for feeding wire through said plate in position to be engaged by the gripping-device, a shaft, and connections whereby the rotation of said shaft operates the aforesaid devices, substantially as specified.

9. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw plate, a gripping device adapted to engage the wire and draw the same through the plate, a vertically reciprocable cutter, a device arranged to feed a wire through said plate in position to be engaged by the gripping device and arranged on the opposite side of said plate from said gripping device, and means for operating said devices and said cutter, substantially as specified.

10. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate, a gripping device adapted to engage the wire and draw the same through the plate, a reciprocable cutter on the same side of said plate as the gripping device, a device arranged to feed a wire through said plate in position to be engaged by the gripping device and ar ranged on the opposite side of said plate from said gripping device and cutter, a shaft, and connections between said shaft and said devices and cutter, substantially as specified.

ll. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate, a wire gripping device arranged to engage a wire and draw the same through said plate, means for disengaging said device from said Wire when the latter has been drawn through the plate a predetermined distance, a cutter for said wire, means for operating said gripping device and said cutter, and connections whereby the cutter operates after the gripping device has released the wire, substantially as specified.

12. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having a series of apertures of varying size, a wire gripping device arranged to engage the wire inserted through an aperture in said plate, and means for moving said plate with reference to said gripping device to bring different apertures in operative relation thereto, substantially as specified.

13. In a wire-straightening device, the combination of a supporting base, a drawplate having a plurality of apertures therein and having a fiange slidably mounted on said base, means engaging said flange for re ciprocating said plate, a clamp for securing said flange to said base, and a wire-gripping device in operative relation to said plate, substantially as specified.

14. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a base having a slide-way thereon and a slot below said slide-way eX- tending through said base, a draw-plate having a series of apertures arranged longitudinally thereof and provided with a flange fitted in said slide-way and with a rib projecting into said slot, bolts extending through said slot and threaded into said rib, an operating device connected with said flange, and a gripping device mounted in operative relation to said draw-plate, substantially as specified.

15. In a wire-straightening device, the combination of a base having a slide-way thereon and a slot below said slide-way extending through said base, a draw-plate having a series of apertures arranged longitudinally thereof and provided with a flange fitted in said slide-way and with a rib projecting into said slot, bolts extending through said slot and threaded int-o said rib, an operating device connected with said flange, means for clamping said flange to said base, and a gripping device mounted in operative relation to said draw-plate.

16. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therein, a cutter plate mounted thereon, springs normally holding said outter plate out of alinement with said apertures, means for operating said. cutter plate against the action of said springs to cause .it to move across said apertures, and means for drawing a wire through an aperture in said plate, substantially as specified.

17. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therein, a cutter plate mounted on said draw-plate and adapted to slide there-' on, springs normally holding said cutter plate with the cutting edge out of alinement with said apertures, a wire-gripping device, a device for moving said cutting plate across said apertures, a shaft, and connections for operating said plate and said gripping device from said shaft, substantially as specilied.

18. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having one or more apertures therein for the reception of a wire, a cutting plate having end flanges adapted to embrace opposite sides of said plate and provided with an inclined operating surface, a gripping device for drawing a wire through an aperture in said drawplate, a movable device having a part ad apted to engage the incline on the cutter plate, springs for normally holding said cutter plate with its cutting edge out of alinement witn. said aperture or apertures, a shaft. and connections between said shaft and said devices, substantially as specified.

19. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having one or more apertures therein, a wire cutter mounted in operating relation to said plate and adapted to move across said aperture or apertures, springs normally retaining the cage of said cutter plate out of alinement with said aperture or apertures, a wire gripping device movable toward and from said drav-plate, a device for moving said cutter plate to cause the edge thereof to pass across said aperture or apertures, a shaft, and connections between said shaft and said devices for moving the same in opposite directions, substantially as specified.

20. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having one or more apertures therein, a wire cutter mounted to slide across said aperture or apertures and having an inclined operating surface, springs normally holding said cutter with, its edge out of alineinent with said aperture or apertures, a wire-pulling device movable toward and from said plate, means f r automatically suspending the wire-pulling action of said device, an operating device for said cutter adapted to engage the inclined sur face and move the cutter edge across the aperture or apertures in the draw-plate, a shaft for said operating devices, and connections whereby the operating device engages the inclined surface after such suspension of action of the wire-pulling device, substantially as specified.

In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therein for wire, a wire-gripper movable toward and from said platc. a cutter movable across said aperture. means normally holding said cutter with its edge out of alincmcnt with said aperture, an operating device for moving said cutter across said aperture, means for automatically disengaging the gripper from the wire, means for operating said gripper, and connections whereby the cutter will be moved across the aperture by its opc'ating device after the release of the wire from the gripper. substantially as specified.

in a wire-straightening ma .hinc. the combii'iation of a basc, a vertically cxtcnding draw-plate having an aperture therein for wire, a cutter plate having llangcs em bracing the opposite sides of said drawplate and provided with a r arwardly projecting inclined surface, springs normally holding said cutter plate in elcvatcd po sition with its cutting cdgc above said aperture, a wire-gripper movable toward and from said plate. an operating device movable toward and from said plate and having a surface adapted to engage the inclined surface of the *ultcr plate and force said plate downwardly. a shaft, and connections bctwccn said shaft and the gripper and operating device, substantially as spccilicd.

23. in a wire-straightening machine. the combination of a base, a vcrt ically extending dra '-phztc having an aperture therein for wire. a cuttcr plate having i angcs cmhracing the opposite sides of said draw-plalc and provided with a rcarwardly projecting inclined surface, springs normally holding said cutter plate in elevated position with its cutting edge above said aperture, :1 wire pper movable toward and from said l to, an operating d vicc movable toward a1 l from said plate and having a roller :daptcd to ei'igage the inclined surface of the cutter plate and force said plate downwardlv. a shaft. and tfilllltt'llmlh between said shaft and the gripper and operating device for moving the same in opposite directions. substantially as specified.

in a wire-straighlcning machine. the combination oi a ba e. a vertically extending draw-plale mounted thcrcon and having an aperture therethrough for wire, a cutter ilatc having side llanp'es adapted to cnibracc he opposite sides of said dran plale and irovidcd with a rcarwardly projecting flange and a 1't;l]\\2lltll projectinginclined surface. a spring mounted on said base and engaging said llange and normally holding the cutting edge of the cutter plate above said aperture, a ire gripper movable toward and from said plate, an operating device inov: ble toward and from said drawplate and having a roller adapted to engage the inclined surface, a shaft, and connections between said shaft and the operating device and gripper.

25. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a base, a vertically extending draw-plate mounted thereon and having an aperture therethrough for wire, a cutter plate having side flanges adapted to embrace the opposite sides of said draw-plate and provided with a rearwardly projecting flange and a rearwardly projecting inclined surface, a spring mounted on said base and engaging said flange and normally holding the cutting edge of the cutter plate above said aperture, a wire gripper movable toward and from said plate, an operating device movable toward and from said drawplate and having a roller adapted to engage the inclined surface, a guideway for said roller, a shaft, and connections between said shaft and said device and gripper.

26. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire gripper movable toward and from said plate and located on one side thereof, and a second wire,

gripper mounted on the opposite side of said plate and movable toward and from the same, substantially as specified.

27. In a wirestraightening-machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire gripper movable toward and from said plate and located on one side thereof, a second wire gripper mounted on the opposite side of said plate and movable toward and from the same, and means for moving said grippers in reverse directions, substantially as specified.

28. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire gripper mounted on one side of said plate and adapted to draw wire through the aperture therein, a second wire gripper mounted on the opposite side of said plate and adapted to feed wire through said aperture, means for operating said grippers, and means for causing said grippers to release the wire at the end of a predetermined movement, substantially as specified.

29. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire pulling device mounted on one side of said plate and adapted to draw wire through the aperture therein, a wire feeding device mounted on the opposite side of said plate and adapted to feed wire through said aperture, means for operating said devices, and means for suspending the wire-pulling and wire-feeding actions of said devices, respectively, at the end of a predetermined movement thereof, substantially as specified.

80. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, wire gripping devices arranged on each side of said plate and adapted respectively to feed a wire through said aperture and to draw the wire thus fed through said aperture, means for moving said gripping devices toward and from said plate, means for causing each of said devices to automatically release the wire at the end of a predetermined movement thereof, and connections whereby one of said grippers shall be released from the wire while the other is in engagement there with, substantially as specified.

32. In. a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough for wire, a pair of gripping devices mounted on opposite sides of said plate, means for moving said devices toward and from said plate, and means for causing one of said devices to automatically engage the wire while moving away from the plate and for causing the other device to automatically engage the wire while moving toward the plate, substantially as specified.

33. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire gripping device mounted on each side of said plate, means for moving said grippers alternately toward and from said plate, means for causing each gripping device during its excursion to engage a wire, said means being arranged to cause the engagement of one of said members with the wire while moving from the plate and to cause the engagement of the other member with a wire during its movement toward the plate, and means for releasing said grippers from the wire, substantially as specified.

34. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a gripper comprising a fixed and a movable jaw, a shaft, a connection between said shaft and the fixed jaw, an operating arm for the movable jaw having a roller thereon, means normally separating said jaws, and a cam projecting into the path of movement of the roller and adapted to be engaged thereby to close the movable jaw, substantially as specified.

35. In a wire drawing machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a gripper comprising a pair of jaws, a spring arranged to separate said jaws, an operating arm for one of said jaws, a shaft, connections between the other jaw and said shaft for moving the gripper toward and from the plate, and a cam in the path of movement of said gripper adapted to engage the operating arm and thereby close the gripper against the action of said spring, substantially specified.

36. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a gripper nio 'able toward and from said plate, said gripper comprising a pair of jaws, means normally separating said jaws, and means projecting into the path of movement of the gripper and adapted to close the jaws thereof and subsequently release the same to the action of the separating means, substantially as saecified.

37. In a wire straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire gripper movable toward and from said plate and. comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, a spring normally separating said jaws, an operating arm connected with one of said jaws, means for moving said gripper toward and from said plate, a cam projecting into the path of movement of said operating arm and adapted to close the jaws, and means for adjusting said cam toward and from said arm to accommodate the gripper for wires of different size, substantiall as specified.

38. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrongh, a wire gripper means for moving the same toward and from said plate, said gripper comprising a pair of. pivotally-connected jaws, one of said jaws having an operating arm, and a cam for operating said arm, said cam having the opposite ends thereof rounded and said ends connected by a surface substantially parallel with the movement of the gripper, substantially as specified.

In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a reciprocable member, a gripper carried thereby, said gripper having a pair of normally separated jaws, and means for causing said jaws to approach each other and engage a wire during a portion of the travel of the gripper, said means comprising an arm having a cam projection adapted to operatively engage one of the jaws and move the same toward the other, and means operated by the movement of the reciprocable member for retaining the cam projection in operative relation to said movable jaw during a portion of the travel of said member, substantially as specified.

40. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, means for feeding wire through said aperture, said means comprising a rcciprocable member, a. wire-gripping device carried thereby. said device t comprising a pair of jaws, one of said jaws t being movable to ard and from the other l and having an operating arm, a spring norl mally holding said jaws separated, and means for closing said jaws, said means j comprising an arm pivoted intermediate of the ends thereof and having on one side of l its pivot a cam adapted to engage the opert ating arm ot the movable jaw, and a locking device adapted to engage said arm on the opposite side of its pivot to prevent rotation of said arm by the engagement of the jaw arm against said cam, substantially as specified.

4-1. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture thcretln'ough, means for feeding the wire through said aperture, said means comprising a sliding member, a gripper carried thereby and comprising a pair of jaws, one of said jaws having an operating arm tor moving the same toward the other, a spring tending to separate said jaws, and means controlled by the movement of the sliding member for moving the movable jaw toward the other jaw, said means comprising an arm pivoted intermediate of the ends and having on one side of the pivot thereof a cam projection adapted to operatively engage the movable jaw, a rotatable stop member pivoted adjacent to said arm on the other side of said pivot, and means controlled by the movement of the sliding member for moving said stop into operative relation with the adjacent portion of said arm to prevent the yielding of said arm by engagement of the mo able jaw with the cam projection. substantially as specified.

4-2. In a wirc-straightcning machine, the

combination of a (lraw-plate having an aperture thercthrough, a sliding member having a pair of spaced projections thereon,

a wire-gripping device carried by said slidiug member and having a movable jaw, a

spring tending to separate said jaws, and l .ieans for closing said aws for a prederermined length of time, said means comprising an arm pivoted intermediate of the l ends thereof and having on one side of its pivot a cam adapted to operatively engage j the movable jaw, a rotary stop adjacent to the said arm on the opposite side of its pivot and having an operating arm projecting across the sliding member between the pro jections thereon and arranged when rotated by one of said projections to so limit the movement of the arm as to cause the operation of the movable jaw by the cam carried thereby, substantially as specified.

43. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a gripper mounted on one side of said plate, a second gripper mounted on the other side of said plate, a wire cutting device mounted on the same side of said plate as the first-mentioned gripper, an operating device therefor, a shaft having oppositely located cranks, a connection between one of such cranks and the first-mentioned gripper, and a connection between the second crank and the second gripper and the cutter operating device, substantially as specified.

44. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire-gripping device mounted on one side of said plate, a wiregripping device on the opposite side of said plate, a wire-cutting device on the same side of said plate as said first-mentioned gripping device, a shaft having a pair of cranks thereon, a connecting rod journaled to one of said cranks and connected to the firstmentioned gripping device, a sliding member arranged to engage the cutting device and operate the same, a sliding member supporting the second gripping device, and a connecting rod journaled to the second crank and connected to both of said sliding members, substantially as specified.

45. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough for wire, a wire-feeding device on one side of said plate, a wirepulling device on the other side of said plate, a shaft, connections between said shaft and said devices for operating the same alternately toward and from said plate, means for causing the wire'feeding device to engage the wire and feed the same through the plate during its movement toward the plate, means for causing the wire-pulling device to engage the wire and pull the same through the plate during its movement away from the plate, and means for suspending the wire-feeding and the wire-pulling action of said devices respectively at the end of a predetermined movement thereof, substantially as specified.

46. In a wire straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire-feeding device, a wire-pulling device, means for moving said grippers toward and from said plate, means for causing each gripping device to engage a wire, and means carried by the wirepulling device and adapted to limit the amount of projection of the wire fed through the plate by the feeding device, substantially as specified.

47. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire-feeding device, a wire-pulling device, means for moving said devices toward and from said plate, means for causing said devices to operatively engage the wire during a portion only of their movement, a wire cutter arranged to cut the wire after the suspension of the pulling operation of the wire-pulling device, and means carried by the last-mentioned device to limit the amount of projection of the wire fed through the plate by the wire-feeding device, substantially as specified.

48. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate having an aperture therethrough, a wire-feeding device for feeding wire through said aperture, a wirepulling device comprising a pair of pivoted jaws adapted to engage the wire fed through the plate by the wire-feeding device, means for suspending the pulling action of said wire-pulling device, a cutter arranged to sever the wire after such suspension of the pulling action, and an abutment carried by the wire-pulling device and adapted to limit the projection of the wire fed through the plate by the wire-feeding device, substantially as specified.

49. In a wire-straightening machine, the combination of a draw-plate, means for feeding wire through'said plate, a gripper for pulling the wire fed through the plate, and means for moving said gripper toward and from the plate, said gripper comprising a pair of pivoted jaws each having a wireengaging surface, there being a recess at the rear of such surfaces, and an abutment in such recess and extending across the rear ends of such wireengaging surfaces, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. STONE.

Witnesses:

W. J. SCHOENBERGER, BRENNAN B. WEST. 

